TOPIC: Website and Discussion Group Updated

I am the PDSA web guy, and also help with PDSA's social media accounts, like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.

Posts: 77

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Thank you received: 16

On January 8, 2017 the pdsa.org website underwent a major update. This includes this Discussion Group. You will notice major differences in layout and color, as well as some changes in the way things work.

Please be patient with the updated system as we work to fine-tune things and repair problems. Enjoy the new functionality you will find in your account profile, such as:
- View your discussion group posts in your profile.
- Send and receive private message with other members of the pdsa.org online community.
- Send an email to others.
- Edit your discussion group signature.

Feel free to post any questions you have on this topic, and report any problems/bugs that you encounter.

I am the PDSA web guy, and also help with PDSA's social media accounts, like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.

Posts: 77

Karma: 1

Thank you received: 16

I made the blockquote the same size, but bold & italics.

I'll work on the typing and formatting tools. There are definitely some problems there that will not be easy to fix.

I don't hold out too much hope for the PREVIEW tab. It seems to be a well documented problem with no solid solution. I will keep working on it. Did the previous version have a PREVIEW tab and did it work?

I am the PDSA web guy, and also help with PDSA's social media accounts, like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.

Posts: 77

Karma: 1

Thank you received: 16

Update:

1. The blockquote is now dark blue in color and not bold.

2. I adjusted the line height on the discussion group so there is not so much space between the lines. Most styling changes are not difficult, but...

3. There is a conflict between the software used for the user profiles and the discussion group software that is causing the PREVIEW text not to work. It will take a bit of time to find a solution to that problem. I remember that this happened on one of the previous versions of the website/discussion group, and it was able to be repaired. So I hope the same is true this time.

I am the PDSA web guy, and also help with PDSA's social media accounts, like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.

Posts: 77

Karma: 1

Thank you received: 16

UPDATE:

The "Preview" functionality is now working.

You should be able to type your post and then format it using the formatting menu listed above the compose window. When you click on the "Preview" tab it will show you what your post will look like. If you would like to adjust something, just click the "Write" tab and adjust it.

The text may appear to be red when you first type. After you click the "Preview" tab the red will go away. I don't know why the text is red at first, it is just a function of the software. Unless you highlight text and choose a specific color, the text will always be black/gray.

Unlike the previous version of the discussion group software, the "Preview" of your post is not a "live" preview. It will not show you what your post will look like as you type. You must click on "Preview" in order to see what your post will actually look like. Perhaps a future release of the discussion group software will include the "Live" preview functionality.

I am the PDSA web guy, and also help with PDSA's social media accounts, like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.

Posts: 77

Karma: 1

Thank you received: 16

UPDATE:
1. I adjusted the styling of the "Write" window so that it better matches the "Preview". Line spacing, font type and size, etc.
2. The "Subscription" check box should now be unchecked as the default. If it is not, try refreshing the page, logging-out and then back-in, and/or clearing your Internet browsers cache/history.

I am the PDSA web guy, and also help with PDSA's social media accounts, like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.

Posts: 77

Karma: 1

Thank you received: 16

I apologize, but I don't understand what you mean. Is there are problem with the display of the text of a topic? If so, can you attach a screen shot? Is this a problem on a mobile device or laptop/PC computer? Thanks.

I was just wondering why they changed the website. I have all my "special" PDSA remarks saved and now I cannot access them anymore. I really liked the old website. Sometimes progress isn't always better. Just wondering. I also seem to get "lost" on this new site.

I am the PDSA web guy, and also help with PDSA's social media accounts, like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.

Posts: 77

Karma: 1

Thank you received: 16

You have to keep website software up to date for security purposes. It is the same exact website with the same main menu, all the same pages, and all of the website pages kept the exact same URLs (addresses of pages). It just has a new look and is up to date and more secure.
What "special remarks" can you not access?

As a temporary fix, you can use your bookmarks, and when you get an error message 404 page not found, do this:
Go to the top of the page to edit the URL.
Edit the part that reads forum-sp-534 to read discussion-group
Then hit ENTER, and you should reach your desired destination.

Are you ready yet for comments on the mobile version? On my phone the Discussion Groups are almost impossible to find from the main pdsa.org page. In fact, most of the destinations are hidden behind three bars, behind the Facebook logo.

I am the PDSA web guy, and also help with PDSA's social media accounts, like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.

Posts: 77

Karma: 1

Thank you received: 16

I moved those social media icons, like Facebook, to the footer of the website to free up some room in the header.

The "three bars" is the "hamburger" icon, which is the standard icon used for a menu on the mobile display of a website. The main menu has too many items to list them all when viewing them on a mobile device. So the menu switches to the "hamburger", which you click to access the main menu.

You can get to the Discussion Group from that main menu, but once logged-in there will also be a "Discussion Group" link at the very top of the page that you can click to go right there.

I am the PDSA web guy, and also help with PDSA's social media accounts, like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.

Posts: 77

Karma: 1

Thank you received: 16

Rob16 & DMann,

I think I figured out what you were referring to. On a mobile device I saw that the first line of text in the post was bleeding into the title of the topic. I added some more margin in between. Please check it now and let me know if it looks better on your end.

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